Stuttgart's Transformation: A City Reinventing Itself - Forecast for European election: The Greens significantly decline in their nation
The CDU has emerged victorious in Baden-Württemberg's European elections, while the Greens have faced a considerable setback. In a tally by SWR at around 10:20 p.m., the Christian Democrats garnered a solid 31.7%. The Greens, on the other hand, managed only 14.2%, as per the data provided by the polling firm Infratest dimap on Sunday.
The AfD stands as the second most influential force with 14.9%, despite the controversial headlines concerning potential connections between AfD candidates and Russia and China surface in Germany. The SPD received 11.6% in the region, and the FDP garnered 6.8%.
Voter turnout in Baden-Württemberg has shown a marginal increase compared to the previous elections, according to the SWR projection. As reported by Südwestrundfunk on Sunday, 65.7% of the population cast their votes in this region this year, as opposed to 64.0% in the past.
Previously, in 2019, the CDU emerged victorious in Baden-Württemberg with a vote share of 30.8%, followed by the Greens, who won 23.3% of the votes. The SPD secured 13.3%, the AfD 10%, and the FDP 6.8%.
Around 7.8 million German citizens were eligible to vote in the European election this time. The statistical office states that more than 830,000 citizens from other EU countries reside in the region. These citizens had the option to vote either in Germany or in their native countries. The provisional official result for the European election in the southwest is expected at 11:00 p.m.
The CDU has also taken the lead at the national level. The state leader, Manuel Hagel, claims his party's policies are validated by the calculation. "The people have faith in the CDU - they have solidified our path towards the center-right," Hagel said. The CDU stands for stability, reason, and harmony. "That was our proposal, and the people have relied on us for it today."
The general secretary, Nina Warken, expressed even more optimistic sentiments. "The CDU in Baden-Württemberg is prospering and is back." As per estimates, the CDU is leading nationwide in the European elections, whereas the Greens are experiencing losses across the country.
Green candidate for Baden-Württemberg, Michael Bloss, recognized that the campaign for the European election was primarily shaped by debates from federal politics. "We must evaluate this outcome," Bloss said. The Greens consider the right-wing shift in Europe to be the most significant challenge of the upcoming five years. "We are prepared to be part of the center-majority and prevent the involvement of right-wing and anti-European parties," Bloss affirmed.
Finance Minister Danyal Bayaz from the Greens urged his party to conduct an honest assessment in order to regain public trust. "Being successful again will only come if we scrutinize our setbacks thoroughly." The Greens are not pleased with the election result and must ponder on how they can be perceived as a pragmatic political force once more, said Bayaz.
The chairman of the AfD in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament sees his party's policies validated by the European election result. "The citizens have not been deceived," stated Anton Baron. "The media smear campaigns against our party have been unsuccessful." People cared little for "invented scandals" and favored engaging with actual politics, he continued. "And AfD politics is convincing them."
The SPD state leader, Andreas Stoch, claimed the election outcome for his party to be somewhat bitter and frustrating and demanded action. "The SPD must not allow itself to be mired in constant conflicts that obscure all the accomplishments of the government," Stoch commented on federal politics. "Our party must demonstrate that we are the driving force in this federal government."
Lastly, the chairman of the FDP in the state parliament, Hans-Ulrich Rülke, found satisfaction with his party's performance. "We Liberals have hardly lost any ground in Baden-Württemberg, despite the traffic light coalition in Berlin. Industrialists are speculating that the FDP in Baden-Württemberg will once again become the strongest FDP state association," Rülke enlightened. "The Greens in Baden-Württemberg are suffering a severe loss - even more acutely than the national average. This firmly substantiates the notion that the hour of the Greens in Baden-Württemberg has ended." The Liberals, it seems, are working towards achieving a center-right coalition in Baden-Württemberg in 2026.
Read also:
The Greens' struggle extended beyond Baden-Württemberg, as they also faced a decline in support across Europe, according to various European election polls. Manuel Hagel, the CDU state leader in Baden-Württemberg, celebrated the party's success, highlighting their alignment with stability, reason, and harmony. Danyal Bayaz, the Greens' finance minister in Germany, acknowledged the need for self-reflection within their party to regain public trust.
In the midst of these elections, controversies surrounding potential connections between AfD candidates and Russian and Chinese entities persisted, yet this did not significantly impact the AfD's performance. Michael Bloss, the Green candidate for Baden-Württemberg, emphasized the importance of evaluating the outcomes and addressing the right-wing shift in Europe. Stepping into the political limelight, Danyal Bayaz and Andreas Stoch, respectively, called for their parties, the Greens and SPD, to focus on unity and accomplishment rather than internal conflicts.
Recognizing their position, the chairman of the AfD in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament asserted that his party's policies had not been deceitfully represented. Meanwhile, Hans-Ulrich Rülke from the FDP was satisfied with his party's performance in Baden-Württemberg, noting that other state associations might also strengthen their standing, while the Greens suffered significant losses not only in this state but also across Germany.
Eyeing future opportunities, the Liberals raised the prospect of working towards a center-right coalition in Baden-Württemberg by 2026, indicating potential shifts in the political landscape. The CDU's national lead suggested a solidified center-right path, while Manuel Hagel referenced the support from his constituents. Additionally, Southwest Broadcasting reported that the voter turnout had marginally increased in Baden-Württemberg, reflecting renewed interest in regional and national politics.
Controversial coalitions, controversial candidates, and polarizing party stances continued to shape Europe's political landscape, as the European elections highlighted the complexities of democratic representation and the constant evolving nature of political alliances. From Russia's influence to potential coalitions in Germany, the results underscored the diverse political landscape around the continent, signaling both challenges and opportunities for parties across Europe.
